GB2050579A

GB2050579A - A water flow control device

Info

Publication number: GB2050579A
Application number: GB8015771A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ideal Standard GmbH
Current assignee: Ideal Standard GmbH
Priority date: 1979-05-19
Filing date: 1980-05-13
Publication date: 1981-01-07
Also published as: FR2457427A1; NL7908060A; CA1125625A; ATA597979A; NO801460L; DE2920433A1; SE8003262L; DK428779A; ES484585A1; IT7946905A0; GR66510B; MX151085A; JPS55155840A; IT1126141B; BE883371A; JPS6331620B2; AT377588B

Abstract

A concealed bath-filling and shower valve sanitary unit comprises a water shut-off and mixing valve 2 to feed water to a flow path selecting valve 7 operable to feed water selectively to a bath feeding outlet 14 or to a shower feeding outlet 19. The flow path from the selecting valve to the shower feeding outlet 19 includes a chamber 16 containing a water outlet pipe 21. This pipe 21 extends substantially completely across the chamber 16 from one side thereof to the other, and reduces noise caused by water flowing through the chamber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A water flow control device The present invention relates to a water flow control device comprising a path selecting valve operable to feed water selectively to a first path or a second path of the device, the first path including a chamber having a water inlet connected to receive water directed by the path selecting valve to the first path.

Devices of this type are somewhat prone to generate noise in the first path. It is already known to dampen noise by lagging with insulating material the aforesaid chamber, or by fitting sieves into the chamber. In one embodiment the bottom of the chamber may be soldered after the insulating material or the sieves have been fitted.

The insulating material can be harmed by the soldering process.

If sieves are inserted to dampen the sound, there is the danger that in time they become clogged up. Because the chamber may be firmly closed, subsequent cleaning of the sieves may be a problem. Also, this could be very complicated and time-consuming.

According to the present invention there is provided a water flow control device comprising a path selecting valve operable to feed water selectively to a first path or a second path of the device, the first path including a chamber having a water inlet connected to receive water directed by the path selecting valve to the first path, and a water outlet provided by a pipe which extends in the chamber to reduce noise caused by water flowing through the chamber.

According to one development the pipe extends substantially completely across the chamber from one side thereof to another.

According to an alternative development the pipe extends partially across the chamber from one side thereof towards another.

The pipe may penetrate into the chamber from a portion of the first path which is downstream of the chamber.

According to a preferred embodiment, the water flow control device is a sanitary water fitting designed as a bath-filling and shower valve unit having outlets for feeding water to a bath or to a shower selectively. In this case the device may be designed to be a concealed unit.

In the preferred embodiment, the first path portion may be to feed the shower. When the pipe penetrates into the chamber as aforesaid, the pipe may be attached to, and may extend from, the shower feeding outlet of the device.

Preferably, the path selecting valve comprises outlet apertures which can be closed by a sealing element connected to a control member of the valve.

It may be convenient for the device to comprise a shut-off and mixing valve arranged to feed water to the path selecting valve through a duct.

Advantageously, the chamber may have a soldered cover.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be put into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.

The single figure shows in section a sanitary water fitting 1 which is a water flow control device in the form of a concealed bath-filling and shower valve unit. The fitting 1 comprises a conventional shut-off and mixing valve 2, of the ceramic control disc type, from which the cold, hot or mixed water flows in the direction of the arrows through a duct 3 and via an aperture 4 into a water chamber 5 of a flow path selecting valve.

From the water chamber 5 there are outlet apertures 6a and 6b constructed as valve seats which can be closed selectively by a sealing element 7 which is manually controllable by a control member 1 0. The two effective positions of the sealing element 7 and the control member 10 are shown.

When the control member 10 and the sealing element 7 are in their shown lower position, the outlet apertures 6a and 6b are closed and open respectively. The open outlet aperture 6b leads to a further chamber 12. From here the water passes via a duct 13 to a bath feeding outlet 14 of the fitting 1. When, ny manually overcoming the pressure of a pressure spring 1 5 and the water pressure, the control member 10 is brought into its shown upper position, the sealing element 7 closes the outlet aperture 6b and opens the outlet aperture 6a which leads to a shower feeding outlet 19 of the fitting 1.Because of the water pressure now operating under the sealing element 7, this and the control member 10 can retain their shower feeding upper position automatically until the water supply to the chamber 5 is shut-off. The control member 10 and the sealinq element 7 then automatically return to the bath feeding position under the effect of the pressure spring 1 5.

When the control member 10 and the sealing element 7 are in the shower feeding upper position, the water flows, as indicated by the arrows, via the outlet aperture 6a into a water chamber 1 6. The chamber 1 6 is provided with an aperture 17 and is connected to an outlet duct 1 8.

The duct 1 8 leads to the shower outlet 1 9 of the fitting.

As can be seen, the water chamber 1 6 is provided with a cover in the form of a bottom 25 which is soldered-on. It could be screwed-on, but this would be more expensive.

It can also be seen that in the outlet duct 18 an outlet pipe 21 is held which extends almost completely across the water chamber 1 6 from one side thereof to another, and does not affect the depth of the fitting. The pipe 21 projects with its end 22 into the immediate vicinity of a side wall 23 of the water chamber 1 6, and with its other end 24 into the shower outlet 1 9 of the fitting, to which it is attached. The pipe 21 reduces noise caused by water flowing through the chamber 1 6.

The particularly described and illustrated embodiment overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior art as discussed near the beginning of this specification. The provision of the pipe 21 provides noise-damping and requires no or little maintenance. The pipe 21 is resistant to damage when the bottom 25 is being soldered to the remainder of the chamber 16. The provision of the pipe 21 causes no significant problems in production of the fitting, and its cost is relatively low.

The embodiment illustrated and described is only an example for implementing the invention, and the invention as defined by the following claims is not restricted to this. There are further possibilities within the scope of the basic idea of the invention with regard to the arrangement and construction of the pipe 21. At least one of these possibilities is set out before the description of the drawings. Thus, the pipe 21 could extend not as far as shown into the chamber 16, but only partially across the chamber from one side thereof towards another. Moreover, the pipe 21 need not extend along the duct 18.

Claims

1. A water flow control device comprising a path selecting valve operable to feed water selectively to a first path or a second path of the device, the first path including a chamber having a water inlet connected to receive water directed by the path selecting valve to the first path, and a water outlet provided by a pipe which extends in the chamber to reduce noise caused by water flowing through the chamber.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe extends substantially completely across the chamber from one side thereof to another.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe extends partially across the chamber from one side thereof towards another.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe penetrates into the chamber from a portion of the first path which is downstream of the chamber.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, which is a sanitary water fitting designed as a bath-filling and shower valve unit having outlets for feeding water to a bath or to a shower selectively.

6. A device according to claim 5, which is designed to be a concealed unit.

7. A device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first path portion is to feed the shower.

8. A device according to claim 7, when claim 5 is appended to claim 4, wherein the pipe is attached to the shower feeding outlet of the device.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the pipe extends from the shower feeding outlet.

10. A device'according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the path selecting valve comprises outlet apertures which can be closed by a sealing element connected to a control member of the valve.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, and comprising a shut-off and mixing valve arranged to feed water to the path selecting valve through a duct.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chamber has a soldered cover.

13. A water flow control device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.